Yeo Sang-kyoo
# Yeo Sang-kyoo

Yeo Sang-kyoo (Korean: 여상규, born 15 September 1948) is a South Korean judge, lawyer and politician. He is the incumbent Member of National Assembly for Sacheon-Namhae-Hadong, as well as the Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

## Early life and career

Born in Hadong, Yeo was educated at Akyang Primary School, Akyang Secondary School, and Kyungnam High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in law from Seoul National University. After the graduation, he passed the judicial examination in 1978, and was appointed as a judge of the Seoul Central District Court in 1980. In 1990, he switched to the Seoul High Court and worked there for 3 years.

Yeo is also the incumbent director of the Bang Il-young Cultural Foundation since 1993.

## Political career

After working at several organisations, Yeo was brought to the Grand National Party (GNP), prior to the 2008 election. He was selected as an MP candidate for Namhae-Hadong, replacing the incumbent Park Hui-tae. He defeated Kim Doo-kwan (Independent) and Kim Yoon-gon (FPPU).

In 2012 election, Yeo ran for newly-created Sacheon-Namhae-Hadong constituency, and won the election. Few months after the re-election in 2016, he left Saenuri Party (Liberty Korea Party since February 2017) and joined Bareun Party. However, he returned to Liberty Korea Party on 2 May 2017 and endorsed Hong Joon-pyo for the upcoming presidential election.

## Controversies

On 27 January 2018, Unanswered Questions of SBS reported that Suk Dal-yoon was convicted of letting spy in 1981, where Yeo was the judge in charge. In the programme, Suk's son, Suk Kwon-ho, explained that his father was tortured by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, such as putting a ballpoint pen refill into his penis. Following are the telephone conversation between Yeo and the programme emcee.

   Yeo: There's no such evidences. And why are you asking about it now? Bye, I have nothing much to say. MC: Sir, your decision ruined a person's life. Yeo: What? MC: Don't you wanna say sorry to him? It's true that you sentenced life imprisonment...

Following his reaction, several Democratic MPs including Sohn Hye-won, Jin Sun-mee and Jung Chung-rae condemned him. Jin called his reaction as "disgusting", whereas Jung criticised him as "disrespectful". Kwon Sung-joo, the spokesperson of the Bareun Party, urged him to apologise.

## Election results

### General elections

| Year | Constituency | Political party | Votes (%) | Remarks |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2008 | Namhae-Hadong | GNP | 34,874 (56.73%) | Won |
| 2012 | Sacheon-Namhae-Hadong | SP | 57,840 (50.30%) | Won |
| 2016 | Sacheon-Namhae-Hadong | SP | 59,717 (54.83%) | Won |
